Alcoa of Australia and the Australian Federal Government have established a modernized approvals process for mining activities in Western Australia through 2045.
Under this agreement, Alcoa will perform a Strategic Assessment of its current and future mine sites to evaluate long-term impacts on local flora and fauna. While this review proceeds, the Huntly and Willowdale mines will operate under a National Interest Exemption (NIE).
Alcoa is committed to capping land clearing at 800 hectares annually and raising rehabilitation rates to 1,000 hectares per year by 2027. In addition, the company will pay A$55 million in enforceable undertakings to support the Northern Jarrah Forest.
These funds target habitat research and invasive species control. Despite these changes, Alcoa aims for ministerial decisions on the Myara North and Holyoake mine regions by the end of 2026, with mining there expected to begin in 2029.
Alcoa agrees to new environmental framework for Australian mining
24 Feb 2026 15:22 reported by Joy Liu
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